Contact Information

Thompson's three public schools are housed in an educational complex off Riverside Drive (Route 12) in North Grosvenordale. Mary R. Fisher Elementary School (923-9142) has 539 students in grades K-4. Thompson Middle School (923-9380) has 461 students in grades 5-8.. Tourtellotte Memorial High School (923-9303) has 398 Students.

The superintendent's office is also at 785 Riverside Drive (923-9581).

On the Web: www.thompson.ctschool.net/index.html

MARY R. FISHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Elementary education in Thompson entered a new age in 1960, the year the town dedicated its new elementary school and closed the doors of the little school houses scattered throughout the town. Since its beginning, Thompson's elementary school has been considered a pioneer in education in northeastern Connecticut, having early on established programs for children with learning disabilities, reading and speech problems, and perceptual disorders, as well as a special "gifted" program for children with special talents. The school was recently renamed in honor of its first principal whose career spanned 50 years of education in Thompson.

The town's budget for its public schools was $10,300,000 in FY 1999-2000.

PRIVATE EDUCATION

St. Joseph's Parochial School on Main Street, North Grosvenordale provides elementary education for pupils in grades Pre-K through 8. The Marianapolis Preparatory School on Chase Road on Thompson Hill was established in Thompson in 1931 by the Marian Fathers. It enrolls many students from local communities, and also has an international boarding student population.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

There is a variety of excellent colleges and universities within a thirty-five mile radius of the town. Locally, the Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson is a two-year college offering a number of degree and nondegree programs for area residents.

The University of Connecticut, located in nearby Storrs offers undergraduate and advanced degrees in a wide range of disciplines, and also offers the option of attending satellite campuses. Windham is the home of Eastern Connecticut State College and Nichols College is in nearby Dudley, Massachusetts. Worcester, Massachusetts is the home of several colleges and universities, among them Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, Assumption College, Worcester State, and Becker College. Many outstanding colleges and universities are also within commuting distance in Hartford and Providence, RI.

Tourtellotte Memorial High School

The Tourtellotte Memorial High School was donated to the Town of Thompson by Dr. Jacob Tourtellotte and his wife, Harriet (Arnold) as a memorial to their two daughters, Harriet and Frances, who died in early childhood. The imposing Greek Revival structure located on a hillside in North Grosvenordale personally selected by Mrs. Tourtellotte was dedicated in 1910 and graduated its first class in 1911. A memorial room with an outstanding collection of Tourtellotte memorabilia, is located on the second floor of the school and is opened to the public the first Sunday of every month.

Over the years, the school has undergone building and expansion projects to keep it upto-date and maintain the highest possible level of service and attention to the changing needs of its growing student population. As recently as 1988, an $8.5 million renovation project added 22 classrooms and a state of the art gymnasium and an outdoor sports facilities to the landmark school. Tourtellotte Memorial High School is a comprehensive high school serving grades 9 through 12.

THOMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Thompson Middle School contains grades 5 through 8. Classes have been designed to provide a transition from elementary school to high school. Emphasis is on providing a successful learning experience for all children as they mature during the middle years. Programs are available which meet the educational, cultural, and social needs of middle school children.